This month, Nookmag directs the attention to start-ups. There are several different definitions of start-ups and for us, start-ups mean creativity, being fresh in the scene and possessing the urge to make an impact. In this story, we caught up with The General Store and find out more about how they give back to the society.
2015 is a momentous year for The General Store by Plus Minus. Go big or go home. Obviously, ‘going home’ was not a favourable option. In June, founders Fauzi and Ira launched a brick and mortar store after running The General Store online for close to three years. Before this, they were also involved in flea markets and a pop-up at TANGS at Orchard and VivoCity. Having their own store means having the liberty to make their own decisions on how they wish to run it.
“Personally, it means that we’re on the next level. It has been a goal of mine before I even started The General Store,” Ira expressed.
Fired by a concept and a passion to create extensive awareness for aesthetically functional products, The General Store had its humble beginnings in the homes of Fauzi and Ira. Currently, it is the sole and exclusive distributor of Cheapo Watches, Rich Gone Broke Watches, Drifter USA Bags, JUJU UK Shoes and State Bags and is also supplying to stores within Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Besides working hard on their business, Fauzi and Ira are dedicated in giving back to the society. Being cat lovers, their first instinct was to work with the Cat Welfare Society, where 15% of their sales of cat products were donated to the charity. The campaign turned out to be a success and they donated a significant amount. In the pipeline is a campaign that involves feeding stray cats and donation initiatives to Mendaki, an organisation dedicated to serving the Muslim community.
On her beliefs and attitudes towards giving back…
“I guess it has always been instilled in me since I was young. My parents always brought me to less-privileged Asian countries. I didn’t have the privilege to travel to Disneyland and things like that.” – Ira
On what makes a good design…
“The process. When I’m bringing in a brand, I like to read about the brand – the story behind it and the motto. It is not just based on the design, but the process. The story means a lot to me. So if it captures me, I’ll bring the brand in.” – Ira
On being inspired to succeed…
“It’s the thought of wanting to succeed, to reach to the next level. I don’t like to settle on where I am right now and be complacent. We started out selling from Facebook and we slowly build this up as the days go by. We want to see everything progress and not stay stagnant.”
On their daily essential items…
“My laptop and my mobile phone. I work 24/7. Even when I’m sleeping, I’ll check my phone to look out for emails. When I wake up and I’m using the toilet, I’ll use my phone too. I’m always with my phone.” – Ira
“For me, I’m always with my bike keys and my phone. If there are any orders, I’ll be the one who will be retrieving the stock, pack and deliver once I’m done. We have no life.” – Fauzi
On recommended brands that readers could look out for…
“RIPNDIP – skateboarding brand from the US. Neck pouches and banana bags from Drifter and State Bags.” – Ira
On challenges…
“Time is our biggest challenge.” – Fauzi
“To be honest, it’s the lack of manpower. I feel that if we have more people working for us, we’ll be more productive and efficient. But right now, it’s just the both of us. Initially, we had trouble with pre-orders, that’s why we stopped it. There were more cons than pros in terms of logistics and the arrival of the wrong items. We didn’t have capital, so we had to do pre-orders in the beginning.” – Ira
Words for creative people…
“Be prepared to dedicate 100% to what you’re going to do, or even 200 % or 300%. Dedicate yourself because it’s really going to take a lot of your time and effort. And if you’re doing a half-standard job, it’s just going to reflect really badly and your efforts will go to waste. We sacrificed a lot and it’s about being dedicated to what you’re doing and what your dreams are.” – Fauzi
“Creative wise, there so many people copying other people in terms of wanting to create a brand. Find your own identity and don’t just copy. Know your vision and how you want to see your store in a few years’ time. I’ve been seeing a lot of brands that look exactly the same with no concept and story. They’re just doing it for the sake of it being a trend.” – Ira
Visit The General Store at 38 Arab Street and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @helloplusminus.
